Automatic filter-press.



R. LEMMON'z R. P. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC FILTER PRESS. APPLIoATIoN FILED omas, 190s. RENBWBD Nov. 1, 1912.

1,047,093. Patented Deo. 10, l1912.

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R. LEMMON & R. P. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC FILTER PRESS.

.APPLIUATION FILED 00T.9, 1909. RENBWBD NOV. 1, 1912.

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R. LEMMON & R. P. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC FILTER PRESS.

APPLIGATION FILED 001:9. 1909. BBNEWBD Nov. 1, 1912.

1,047,093, Izateilted Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET s. P1

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

ROBERT LEMMON AND RoBERT PATRICK HOLMES, OE BOULDER CITY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

AUTOMATIC FILTER-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Deo. 10, 1912.

Application filed October 9, 1909, Serial No. 521,957. 'Renewed November 1, 1912. Serial No. 729,128.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that we, ROBERT LEMMON and ROBERT PATRICK HOLMES, subjects of the King of Great Britain, and residents of Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Filter-Presses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists of a machine for separating the liquid from the solid portion of liquid pulp by means of pressure and compressed air, and is particularly applicable to the treatment of ores in a fine State of division commonly known as slimes, in which the gold or silver is dissolved and taken into solution by means of chemical solvents.

Tn order that our invention may be clearly understood both as to construction and method of operation we will describe the same by the aid of the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is al plan of the filter press. Fig. Q. is an elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of segment gear wheel (D2). Fig. a is a detail of the ltering cylinder and plunger gear. Fig. 5 is a detail of the eccentric as in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of the segment bevel wheel (A2). Fig. 7 is a detail of the agitating plunger. Fig. 8 is a detail of the cam and steady rod gear. Fig. 9 is a plan of the cam as in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail of the cushion gear-on the main shaft plungers. Fig. 1l is a detail view of the shoe for raising the filter bottom, the view being on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters are used throughout the drawings to represent corresponding parts wherever they occur.

For the purpose of our invention a number of filtering chambers A are employed, preferably cylindrical in shape, and constructed in a disk or table B mounted to revolve in a horizontal plane about a pivot or spindle C. During the revolution of the disk or table the filtering chambers are each moved successively to different positions 1 to l2, as indicated on the drawing, and near the outer edge of the table B under the positions 1 to 12 ar-e located rollers on which the bed or table is supported. We have shown 12 filtering chambers in our drawings and will refer to this number only in order to make our meaning clear.

The filtering chambers A are fitted with grating or perforated plates D and covered :with filter cloths E forming filtering botjtoms to the chambers. toms are fitted to slide in the chambers A :and are provided with shoes or the like as F. The disk or table B is encircled by tooth ygear or segments of tooth gear G, by means .of which the disk or table B is revolved.

The filtering bot- Around the disk B is a framework preferably consisting of standards H and circular concentric girders K, these are so constructed and arranged as to carry the gear and plungers hereinafter described. Bevel gear wheels L are located above all the filtering chambers except the one in the position indicated at 1, which is the position for discharging the pulp. The bevel gear wheels L are attached to spindles M, the latter being above the centers of the filtering chambers A, and carried radially by bearings G1 on the circular girders K. These bevel gear wheels L are coupled together by means of intermediate pinions N. Two of these bevel wheels L are fitted on the main driving shaft P, one of them being loosely mounted on said shaft.

Above eight of the positions of the filtering chambers A, namely those numbered 3, t, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 are arranged compressing plungers R which are fitted with rubber or some similar packing S to make them fit air tight into the filtering` chambers. Above two of the positions of the filtering chambers A namely those marked 6 and 9 are arranged hollow agitating plungers T which are fitted with hollow fingers X by means of which water may be discharged. All these plungers R and T are connected to the spindles M or main shaft P by means of plunger rods z, cross heads A1, eccentric rods B1 and eccentric sheaves and stra-ps C1 by means of which a vertical reciprocating motion is communicated to the plungers R and T. fe may use cranks in place of the -eccentrics C1 if preferred. Guide bars D1 are fitted to the circular girders K Ato guide the slippers E1 of the cross heads A1.

The agitating plungers T are made to revolve on the plunger rod Z by means of a sleeve F1 extending from the plunger and mounted to turn on the plunger rod. A pul ley G1, lis attached to the sleeve F1 and is made wide to accommodate a belt which passes around the pulley and is driven by pulleys H1, K1, and L1, and belt M1, as shown in Fig. 7. The pulley L1 is fitted to the spindle l 1 of the intermediate gear wheels N. The plunger, plunger rod and the agitating fingers or points are made hollow so thatwater is admitted and passed down and out of the points thus thoroughly mixing the pulp. The water may be introduced by means of a hose connected with the hollow plunger rod, as shown in Fig. 7, and arranged to allow of the reciprocating motion. The bearing caps of the spindles M are provided with compression or buffer springs P1 to form a cushion in the eventl of any incompressible matter getting into the filtering chamber A and the plungers connected to the main shaft P are provided with spring or buffer boxes as R1, Fig. 10 to effect this same purpose without displacing the shaft. Underneath the position of the discharging chamber marked 1 is arranged a bracket S1 with a bridge or roller T1.which engages the filter bottom shoe F as itarrives at that point and raises the filter bottom to the surface of the filtering table B, the filter bottom being returned to its normal position after it passes this point by the spring V. On the main shaft P are two mutilated bevel gear wheels A2 shown in Fig. 6 which gear with ordinary bevel wheels B2 fitted to vertical spindles C2. To the lower portion of these spindles C2 are fitted pinions D2 having teeth on a portion only of their periphery. ,The pinions D2 engage and gear with the spur wheel G on the filtering disk or wheel B, and on the top side of each pinion D2 is formed a socket, as F2. On the main shaft P are fitted the cam gears E2 which actuate rods G2 pressing them into the sockets F2 when required, the rods when released from the cams E2. being returned by means of the springs H2. A gear wheel K2 is fitted to the shaft P and meshes with a. gear wheel L2 mounted to turn and carrying a crank pin M2 operating the scraper or rake N2 through the connecting rod P2.

The machine is driven by any convenient motive power through the pulleys R2, pinion S2 and spur wheel T2. The pulp is admitted by means of a pipe or launder W and wash water by means of the pipes Z1.

The method of operation of our machine is as follows:-Rotary motion is given to the main shaft P which motion is communicated to the chain of wheels L and N giving a vertical reciprocating motion to the plungers R and T likewise a rotary motion to the plungers T, the plungers passing into and out of the filtering chambers A. The gear wheels A2, B2, and D2 are so set, that, while the plungers are on the up stroke and thus out of the filtering chambers, the teeth of the gear wheels are in action and the filtering disk or table B is moved one twelfth of a revolution so that the chamber marked l moves to the place previously occupied by that marked 2 and 2 to 3 and so on. As each filtering chamber arrives at the position marked l, the roller T1 engages the shoe F and pushes the filter bottom up. When this point is reached the teeth of the wheels A2 and D2 have passed out of gear and the filtering disk B remains stationary. The cams E2 now co-me into action and press the rods G2 into the sockets F2 and hold the pinion D2 steady, and t-he plungers R and T are lowered by their eccentrics C1 into the filtering chambers A, while the scraper N2 is pushed forward by the crank pin M2 and removes the cake of pulp from the surface. This action is continuously repeated until the pulp which is fed into the chamber, then in t-he position marked 2, through the pipe or launder W has been pressed respectively in chambers Nos. 3, 4, and 5 agitated with water in chamber No. 6

again pressed in 7 and 8 agitated with more 95 water in 9 again pressed in 10, ll and 12 and finally forced to the surface by the shoe action under No. l and shoved ofi' into a chute by the scraper N2. It will thus be seen that one chamber is always being filled with the pulp, while the pulp is simultaneously pressed in eight chambers, simultaneously agitated and washed in two chambers, and is being discharged from one chamber. It must be noted that the plunger is not brought into direct contact with the pulp but the pressure is obtained by the in* closed air. Referring to Fig. 4, the pulp is shown at V1 and the air space at 71 this air acting on the contained water forces it through the filter cloth E and some of the air follows, thus displacing the water and drying the cake. On the return of the plunger a suction action takes place which cracks the cake and lifts it off its bed, thus rendering it free for dislodgment by the scraper N2.

Te thus have a continuous filter press capable of pressing, filtering, washing, and discharging its pulp in a succession of operations.

What we do claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an automatic filter press, a disk or table mounted to turn and having gear teeth 0n its periphery, means for intermittently rotating the same including a mutilated gear adapted to engage the teeth on said disk, filter chambers on said disk or table for containing the pulp to be filtered, the

said filf er chambers each having a movable filtering bed, plungers constructed to fit air tight in said chambers, means for reciprocating said plungers vertically to move the same into and out of said chambers to compress air and force it through the pulp to displace the liquid portion of the pulp through the filtering bed, and to produce a suction action to lift the cake of pulp off the filter bed, hollow plungers mounted to reciprocate vertically and torevolve in a horizontal plane and adapted to enter said filter chambers, the said plungers having hollow agitating fingers adapted to discharge water, mechanism for raising the filtered cake of pulp to the surface of the filtering table, and mechanism for holding the said mutilated gear steady when its teeth are out of mesh with the teeth of the disk and the latter is stationary.

2. In an automatic filter press, the combination with a series of filtering chambers, mounted to revolve, and means for moving the series of chambers intermittently, t-he said chambers being provided with movable filtering bottoms, and adapt-ed to contain pulp to be filtered, of air-tight fitting plungers, means for reciprocating the plungers to cause them to alternately enter the said filtering chambers to compress air therein to displace the liquid from the pulp through the filtering medium, hollow plungers mounted to reciprocate and revolve and constructed to receive and discharge wash solutions to miX with and dilute the pulp, means for actuating the hollow plungers, shoes on the filtering bottoms, a step for engaging the shoes to lift the filtering bottom and the filtered cake of pulp carried thereby, a scraper, and means for reciprocating the scraper to discharge the cake of pulp.

3. In an automatic filter press, filtering chambers for the material to be filtered, the said chambers having movable filtering bottoms, a table containing the filtering chambers, pressing plungers, and agitating plungers operating successively in the said filtering chambers, a gear for intermittently rotating the table, cam mechanism for holding the rotating gear steady when the table is stationary, means for raising the filtering bottoms, and mechanism for removing the filtered cake of pulp from the machine.

4L. ln an automatic filter press, the combination with filter chambers, means for delivering charges of pulp to said chambers, and means for moving the filter chambers intermittently of pressing plungers adapted to fit air-tight in the filter chambers for subjeeting the pulp in said chambers to air pressure to filter the same, agitating plungers for agitating the pulp in said chambers and arranged to discharge water into the pulp to wash the same, means for conducting water to said agitating plungers, pressing plungers for subjecting the agitated and washed pulp to air pressure to remove the liquid therefrom, and means for discharging the solid portion of the pulp.

5. In an automatic filter press, filtering chambers for receiving the pulp to be filtered, the said chambers being provided with a filtering medium, means for compressing air in said chambers to displace the liquid portion of the pulp, and producing a suction in said chambers to lift the cake of pulp 0H the filtering medium, means for agitating and washing the pulp, means for raising the finished cake of pulp out of the filtering chamber, and means for removing it from the machine.

6. In an automatic filter press, filtering chambers for receiving the pulp, means for pressing the pulp in said chambers to filter the same, means for agitating and washing the pulp, means for pressing the pulp after the action of the agitating and washing means to remove the liquid therefrom, means for raising the dry or ltered calre of pulp out of the filtering chambers, and means for removing it from the machine.

7. In an automatic filter press, the com bination with a table mounted to revolve, means for intermittently moving said table, and filtering chambers arranged in a circle on said table, of means for delivering the pulp successively to said filtering chambers, a series of reciprocating pressing plungers for operating on the pulp to be pressed in said chambers to filter the same, the said plungers being adapted to fit air-tight in said chambers, a second series of similar pressing plungers spaced from the first series, and a third series of similar pressing plungers spaced from the second series, means for reciprocating the pressing plungers to move them into and out of said chambers, a hollow agitating plunger arranged in the space between the first and second series of pressing plungers, a second agitating plunger arranged in the space be tween the second and third series of pressing plungers, the said agitatino' plungers being arranged to operate in sai filter chambers and being mounted to turn and to reciprocate and having means for introducing water into the pulp in the chambers, means for actuating the agitating plungers, and means for removing the pulp from the apparatus after the pulp is acted upon by the last series of pressing plungers.

8. In an automatic filter press, the combination with a frame, of a table mounted to rotate and provided wit-h filtering chambers having movable filter bottoms, rollers for supporting said table, a main driving shaft journaled in the frame, gearing for moving the table intermittently from said shaft, plungers operating successively in said ltering chambers, the said plungers comprisfrom the apparatus when the filter bottom is 10 ing pressing plungers and agitating plunraised.

gers, means for actuating the plungers from In testimony whereof We aiiix our signathe main shaft, a shoe carried on each filter tures in presence of two Witnesses.

5 bottom, a device for engaging each shoe to ROBERT LEMMON.

raise the filter bottom, a spring for return- ROBERT PATRICK HOLMES. ing the filter bottom to normal position, a Witnesses: scraper, and means for actuating the scraper WILLIAM GEORGE MANNERS, from the main shaft to discharge the pulp vALEX. E. MARSHALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C. 

